Spirometer.



No. 735,542. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1903,. H. T. LYTTLBTONI SPIRGMBTBR. APPLIOATIQN FILED JAN. 23, 1903.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 4, 1903.

-JPATENT '()EEIGEA SSPIROMETER.

SPECIFCATION formingpart of `Letters. Patent No. 735,542, dated August 4, 1903. Application led January 23 1903. Serial No. 140.302. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it 71mg/ concern,.-

Be it known that I, HENRY THOMAS LYT- TLETON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marshall, in the county of Harrison and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Spirometer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved spirometer, and has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efticient device of this character adapted for use by invalids, convalescents, and other persons for exercising the lungs and measuring andindicating the cubic capacity or volume of air expelled from the chest.

This invention consists,in general,in a stationary open tank or vessel having an inclined bottom and filled with Water or other liquid and an inverted bottomless vessel or air-receiver of approximatelythev same shape and size hinged to and fitting Within the stationary vessel and carrying a graduated scale or indicator, the stationary vessel being pro# vided with a pipe or tube which extends through the front Wall of said vessel and communicates'with the air-chamber formed by the hinged receiver, so that when air isexpelled from the lungs through the tube it will force the hinged receiver upward and indicate the cubic capacity or Vvolume of air admitted thereto. Y The invention further consists in lthe construction and novel combination and arrangements of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying d raWings,and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved spirometer. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in both igures of the drawings.

1 designates a stationary tank or vessel formed of metal or other suitable material open at the top and consisting of the vertical` eyes 8, secured to the rear end 3 of the vessel 1, forming a hinged connection and permitting said receiver to rise and fall asthe air is admitted to or exhausted therefrom.

The stationary vessel 1 is supplied with a quantity of water or other liquid 9, which nearly fills said vessel and forms a water seal, preventing the escape of air, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The front end 4: of the vessel 1 is preferably curved, as clearly shown .in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and is provided with a suitable hand or pointer 10, which, in conjunction with'a graduated scale 1l on the correspondingly-curved end 12 of the hinged receiver 6, indicates, as the receiver rises, the quantity of air admitted thereto.

A pipe or tube 13 passes through an opening 14 in the front Wall of the stationary vessel, one endV of which is bent at right angles, forming a vertically disposed section 14', Which extends a slight distance above the Water-line and communicates with the airchamber 15, formed by the receiver 6 when in the closed position. The other end of the pipe or tube 13 is provided with a flexible extension 16,'terminating in a mouthpiece 17. A leg or foot 18 is secured in any suitable Amanner to the`rear end 3 of the stationary vessel V1 and serves to support the instrument in -a level position.

The water or other liquid is introduced into the stationary Vessel by swinging the receiver upwardly on its hinges, and after a suiicient quantity of liquidhhas been supplied therein the receiver is allowed to assume its normal position within the stationary vessel, the air being forced out through the tube 13 as the receiver descends. A

In practice the operator takes a deep inspiration, filling his lungs to their full capacity. The mouthpiece is then pressed to the lips and the air expelled through the tube 13 into the chamber 15, the hinged receiver'being raised a distance varying with the quantity of air expelled from the chestand the hand or pointer indicating on the graduated scale as the receiver rises the volume of air admitted to the instrument.

By having the bottom of the stationary vessel inclined it reduces the amount of liquid necessary to the edective operation of the IOO device and renders the instrument lighter, while it at the same time eftectually indicates the volume of air introduced. The receiver being pivotally connected to the stationary vessel at the rear end thereof permits said receiver being thrown back, so as lo allow the liquid in the 'stationary vessel to be replenished when necessary. The receiver may also `be detached from the stationary vessel when desired, so that any sediment or deposits accumulated therein may be removed.

The leg or support 1S is preferably hinged to the vessel l, which permits said leg being folded and the instrument compaetly arranged for transportation or storage.

In some casesanoncongealableliqnid,sueh as oil or glycerin, may be employed instead of Water, and various changes in form, proportion, and minor details ot' construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention,what I claim is- 1. A device ofthe class described, comprising a stationary liquid-containing tank or vessel open at the top and provided with an A inclined bottom, a removable inverted receiver pivoted to the tank or vessel and movable within the same, a stationary pointersecured to the liquid-containing vessel, a graduated scale carried by the receiver and coactingwithin the pointer, an air-conducting tube having its outer end provided with a mouthpiece, the inner end of the tube orpipe being bent at right angles and communicating with the receiver, and means for supporting,r the tank or vessel.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a stationaryliquid-containingvessel open at the top and provided with an inclined bottom, a removable inverted receiver pivoted to the tank or vessel and movable within the same, a stationary pointer secured to the liquid-containing vessel, a graduated scale carried by the receiver and coacting with the pointer, hooks secured to one end of the receiver and adapted to engage eyes secured to the stationary vessel, a leg or support pivoted to the rear end of the stationary vessel, and a pipe or tube leading into the receiver and forming an entrance and exhaust passage for the fiuid.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto alixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HENRY THOMAS LYTTLETON.

Witnesses:

A. S. CURTIS, T. S. CAvEN. 

